HONORS - Socratic Seminar Reflection

Please blog reflecting on your experience with the 3 Socratic Seminars we have held in class this semester. We did one in November, one in early December, and one in mid December. Some things you might consider in your post:

• Have you enjoyed Socratic seminars? Why/why not?
• What is easy about them? What is difficult?
• Have you improved from the first one to the most recent? If so, how?
• What have you learned from the Socratic seminars?
• Will this knowledge be helpful to you in other ways, or in other classes?

DUE - Friday, Dec. 20, 5pm

CP - Argument Paragraph #3

We recently reviewed conventions for formal writing and reviewed the distinction between claims and facts.

We also discussed and debated whether Pi chooses the right plan for Richard Parker in Chapter 57 of Life of Pi.

Now, on your blog, please write an argument paragraph answering the following question:
Does Pi choose the right plan for Richard Parker--Plan 7, "Keep Him Alive"?

Please use your observations and reasoning from our class work, and remember the following guidelines:

• no first or second person pronouns
• use present tense
• use formal language (no contractions, slang)
• include textual evidence and provide citations :-) 

DUE - Saturday, Dec. 14, 8pm
Here's the short argument structure & model we have discussed in class, for reference

CP - An Important Memory

Think of a memory that you hold dear. What is the memory? Why is it important to you?

CP - Letter of Advice

We have read through Chapter 50 of Life of Pi. Now that Pi is alone on his lifeboat with Richard Parker, please write a brief letter giving Pi advice on what to do. You may write to Pi in your own voice; first- and second-person pronouns are appropriate for this assignment.

If you'd like to try a slightly more creative alternative approach, write a letter that Pi would send to an advice columnist, if he were able to do so, at this point in the novel. (Think: what questions would it be most important for him to ask?) Then, take on the role of the advice columnist and write back to Pi.

HONORS - Argument Practice

Your assignment: to brush up on your formal argument writing skills. We've practiced argumentation in a few forum discussions and, to a lesser extent, in our most recent Socratic seminar. Let's translate those argument skills back to writing. Our first big formal essay is coming up soon!

Select EITHER Chapter 48, which we used for our close reading activity, OR the selection from our Socratic seminar, Chapters 54-57. Write an argument of one paragraph defending a claim of your choosing. Here is the Google Presentation we looked at in October, which might help you write.

Don't forget:

• no first or second person pronouns
• use present tense
• use formal language (no contractions, slang)
• include textual evidence and provide citations :-)

DUE: Monday, 12/9

CP - Argument Paragraph #2

It's time to write another argument paragraph--again, we are building an important writing skill you will need not only for your essay about Life of Pi, but for much of the writing you will do in high school and college!

The question:
Is Pi's story about the pandit, the imam, and the priest true? (This story is told in Chapter 23 of Life of Pi, p. 64-70.) As you think about your answer, consider this: Can a story be true without being factual?

Use your notes from class today, the Google Presentation we went over in class, along with your notes about writing a short argument, to help you answer this question. Review the feedback you received on your first paragraph before you begin writing!

Remember:

-indicate the text you are writing about in your topic sentence

-topic sentence serves as your thesis; answer the question

-choose evidence carefully

-follow the flow of ideas we discussed in class

-adhere to rules of formal writing! (No 1st or 2nd person, use present tense, no contractions or informal language)

DUE - Monday, 11/25

HONORS - "The Three Wise Men" in Chapter 23

Now that we've closely analyzed Chapter 23, please reflect on the truth of the story, what makes a story true, and the influence of Chapters 21-22 on the way that we perceive Pi's tale of the "three wise men" meeting his parents and informing them he is practicing three religions.

DUE - next class meeting